My wish is to educate my 2nd grade students on real world issues facing the Monarch Butterfly and the honey bee due to the lack of natural habitats in our Colorado community. I want my students to take action as they work with Douglas County Open Space employees, to cultivate native plants that are missing for these insect populations to thrive. My hope is to grow learners who want to provide a better environment for all living organisms.
Students will create a prototype of a natural habitat based on a real world need discovered through student inquiry using the design thinking process. Through research and interviews, students will understand the problems facing the Monarch Butterfly and the honey bee in Colorado. After information is gathered, students will create a prototype of a natural habitat and present it to an authentic audience such as master gardeners, Douglas County Open Space employees and our school administration. After they receive feedback from their authentic audience, they can modify their prototype to go forward to make it a reality. A change in small plots of land will make a positive difference in the insect populations that need help in our area. Seven and eight year old students can be "the change!"
